The WLA Blog: WAPL - "One Book, One Community" Programs: the Do's and Don'ts

A panel discussion on several examples of community reads programs, which are growing in popularity.

Meg Shriver Appleton PL on organizing

this was the 3rd year of community read in Appleton, and the 2d as a multi-library effort
the most effective thing was partnering w/other libraries, bookstores & community groups
selected a title in partnership with other libraries and organizations
brought in the author to speak as the culminating
have used the community read to focus on an issue
APL buys hundreds of copies, using foundation funds

Multiple libraries(Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kimberly-Little Chute, Kaukauna, UW-Fox) - allows choice of venues, cross-over by patrons - provides greater pool of funds from libraries
Bookstores are good synergy for PR & sales, and can sometimes provide more economical access to author tours
Businesses offer other partnership possibilities, such as catering for author reception, bus promotion

select a title using wide representation to get community investment - last year the library partnered with newspaper, schools and bookstores to have a community vote on title -- this requires a lot of staff involvement to provide coordination, but it was popular and will likely do again
take opportunity to discuss common issues --

in 2008 Alice Hoffman was part of a larger book festival, creating lots of excitement, more partnerships and coss marketing opportunities
in 2007 Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich was foundation of Project Promise in partnership with community nonprofits and the media
in 2005 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson became foundation of community discussion about teen sexual assault, including a partnership with lots of schools, churches, community groups

select book that allows for an author visit: it creates a pinnacle of the process, gives people the chance to discuss with the author
use the ALA publication on planning a community read

Michael Kenney, Appleton PL, on marketing

we're already starting process for next year
marketing alone doesn't do it, the community read needs the expertise of librarians
once author is selected, need to get word out, use available opportunities
in planning process for 2007,

brainstormed 30 titles from a broad-based selection group
the group culled these down to five
the local newspaper got enthusiastic pushing a vote
vote nearly selected British author, wound up with Barbara Ehrenreich, who was initially too expensive
the library made a proposal to Community Health Action Team of ThedaCare for funding -- they underwrote a large piece of the cost, but asked us to include other Fox Cities libraries
having larger base, larger team created more marketing opportunities
the community read grew into Project Promise, ongoing coalition effort to deal with poverty issues
important to establish good working relationship with local press [examples presented of press coverage in local media]
giant replica of book covers, t-shirts with cover for staff, are godd devices

Ellen Connor, Manawa PL, small library program

most ever spent was $900
only pick Wisconsin authors -- available & affordable
1st book was Population 485
in a small community, don't need big committee, not a lot of issues and politics, whole library staff can read the title -- and should
Michael Perry's photo motivated people to read -- women liked his looks, men liked that he wore flannel
bought copies of book for all firefighters & EMT
timetable for the read: unveil book in December, give people until March to read, then author appears
this is hard, hard work: you need to talk to every patron and try to persuade them to read the book -- can be exhausting, but is effective
the staff first agrees on the book, because every staff person needs to read and promote
nonfiction is more marketable to men, who often hesitate to read fiction
library system support & graphic arts are key to holding down cost of PR materials
buys 10-15 copies, minimal processing
talk it up everywhere -- meetings, service clubs, posters in grocery stores
get high school English teachers to give kids extra credit for reading the book
pick your date carefully in a small town: one basketball game can put you out of business
fortunate to have benefactor who underwrites programs, asks bank to pay for ads

Jessica MacPhail, Racine PL, another large library model

hardest thing is to choose the book
for the first book, met with literacy council, Hispanic council; book had to be in paperback, large print, audiobook, and in Spanish
for first book, had radio interview rather than author appearance
for second book, did baseball book to coincide with Miller Park opening --had contest to find errors in Shoeless Joe
for third book, Fist Stick Knife Gun -- community supported ideas for nonviolent conflict resolution, encourage kids to express concerns
for fourth book, tried for theme, got Holocaust survivor Motherland
fifth book, Nickel & Dimed, support from business & social service agencies
Seed Folks - partnership with gardeners
in each case, there are natural coalitions to build around the title -- communities of interest
structure of choosing books is loose, depending on who shows up, only current criteria are

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